The purpose of this paper is to help fisheries officials
gain a clearer understanding of small-scale fishing community cultures. By doing
so, they will be batter prepared to develop more successful management policies
and practices, and to help people In such communities to improve their
livelihoods. The paper suggests methods that might help fisheries managers to
obtain reliable Information about fishing cultures in an ethical manner,
Including the rapid acquisition of Important Information while working within
tight budgetary and time constraints. It also gives recommendations on how the
foregoing objectives can be achieved, underscoring the importance of sustaining
small-scale fishers' rights of access to resources and integration of cultural
considerations Into fisheries-management policies and practices. Six
contemporary Case studies from distinct cultural regions of the world are
annexed, richly exemplifying many of the Issues discussed In the
paper.